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I recently got a Masters degree in an unrelated field to some of the jobs I am applying for(Degree is very specialized). I was thinking that this could hurt me because they will wonder why I am not trying to get a job in that field and I will have to explain it (if I even got the chance).
This is not a post to discuss the morality of it. I'm already aware that some people think it is lying in some way to leave something off your resume. I don't care! Thanks.
If you don't think it is relevant (and that it may actually hurt you) you are under no obligation to list it. My resume doesn't list that I used to deliver pizzas back in the day and there is nothing immoral about that.
This is not a post to discuss the morality of it. I'm already aware that some people think it is lying in some way to leave something off your resume. I don't care! Thanks.
Omitting irrelevant information from your resume is, in no way, lying. Your resume is your calling card that you format to give the best impression of you. Only keep on what is important and relevant. Adding false information is, of course, lying. That being said, if you leave off a position that leaves a gap in your work history, you will likely be asked to explain it.
Yes, but do you think it can hurt me to leave on an unrelvant specalized Masters degree as I described or do I leave it off.
Well, what is your answer to the question, "Why did you get your Masters in X when you are applying for a job in Y?" If you have a good answer to this, then it is not detrimental. If all you can say is "I can't find any work in field X", then I'd leave it off.
It's all about relevance. Each resume should be customized for the job position. It's silly to include non-relevant information.
The other day, my boss got a resume for a SQL Server job with job history for the last 15 years, which included a Chinese food delivery job for 3 years. What does Chinese food delivery have to do with databases? Nothing. It just made the guy look clueless. We had a good laugh.
Even if he completed a 4-year degree at a Chinese chef's school, we still wouldn't have hired him. Why is he applying for a database position? Will he keep applying for Chinese chef positions, while he is working here?
Relevance is important, but with a little creativity you can make any Master's relevant to nearly any career field. I realize it can be a stretch in some cases. My greater concern might be one of "over qualification" rather than "irrelevance." If the position you are applying to says "AA degree preferred" then listing a Bachelors could be a strength, but a Masters is well beyond what they need, so they might write you off as overqualified even though you studied a different career field. If the job requires or at least prefers a Bachelors, then it might not be a bad idea to list your Masters. Don't make a big deal about it or elaborate on it, but simply list it as a bullet item at the top or bottom of your resume.
If they bring it up in an interview, just say "Even though my studies were in a different field, it helped me to approach problems more creatively/lead diverse groups/expanded my world view/gain a greater understanding of management challenges" or anything else you might have learned in that course of study. Any employer would value any of the above skills.
Yes, its ok to leave it off. Very few companies ask for transcripts. If your Grad & undergrad are from the same school and they ask for transcripts, they will see it.
Our managers will not hire anyone who has more schooling than them. Except for management applicants, Ive seen graduate degrees hurt more than help the blue collar employee.
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